[Grimois]

Wigan Athletic V Huddersfield Town
DW Stadium
Saturday 24 January 2015 3pm

This Saturday sees a game between two teams arguably under-performing in the league, although Huddersfield Town will rightly be more pleased than their hosts with the story so far this season.  There are similarities between these two teams, and I have no shame in saying that I have a bit of a soft spot for Wigan.

Both sides play in Blue and White, both have similar stadiums on a similar setting, both of which are shared with rugby league teams. Both sides have chairmen who are self-made millionaires and who have bank-rolled relative successes at their respective clubs. Both clubs have had managerial changes this season, and both of those changes have had an impact on the debate about attitudes to race in football.

The season so far

Given the fact that we are in the midst of the transfer window, and are just over halfway through the season, a mid-term report is due for both teams.

Wigan Athletic

Wigan finished last year with mixed emotion. They finished 5th in the table, no mean feat, but lost in the play-off semi-final to eventual winners QPR. They started the season with high-hopes. Manager Uwe Rosler had taken over mid-season with the club mid-table, and had guided them there – many people expected them to do well this year. Some of their big name, big game players left the club in the first transfer window, however, and arguably they’ve not been replaced with anything like the quality they lost. James McArthur went to Palace, Jordi Gomez went on a free to Sunderland, Jean Beasuejour also left. Incoming were Andrew Taylor from Cardiff, James Tavernier from Newcastle (since loaned out) and Don Cowie – hardly setting the world alight. Wigan are now in real trouble. They won just 3 of their first 17 games, and this say Rosler head out of the door. A week of intense speculation followed, with Malky Mackay eventually confirmed as the new manager. He had been highly respected until revelations of allegedly sending text messages considered to be of a racist, sexist and homophobic nature. This led to Chairman Dave Whelan trying to help and making things worse, all in all it was quite embarrassing. However, arguably none of this is as worrying as the fact that, in his first 9 league games Wigan have won just one, losing 6, and are now lower in the league than when he took over. In addition, speculation linking their best player and joint top scorer, Callum McManaman, with a move away is rife during this window. He may even move before the game.

Huddersfield Town

The Terriers finished last season on a marginal high, with a superb away win at Watford on the final day barely papering over the gaping cracks of a horrible second-half to the season. Town won just 4 times from the beginning of March onwards, and many fans believed that manager Mark Robins was beginning to show signs of not possessing a plan B.
After the opening game of the season, in which Town were thumped 4-0 at home by Bournemouth, Robins left the club. Mark Lillis was a popular appointment to take temporary charge, managing the club through a difficult run of 4 games and earning a creditable win away at Reading and a draw at home to Chartlon, with two spirited losses away at Cardiff and Watford bookending them. Town then appointed Chris Powell as manager. Since then Town have won 7 of his 19 league games in charge, drawing 5 and losing 7. This is pretty steady form given he took over in the circumstances he did and at a time when the transfer window was firmly closed.

In terms of personnel, Town brought in players in key positions over the summer, most notably bringing in Mark Hudoson (now captain) old boy Lee Peltier (briefly captian, now linked with a move to Cardiff) and midfielders Connor Coady from Liverpool and Jacob Butterfield from Middlesborugh, while former player of the year Adam Clayton went the other way to Teeside and Olly Norwood went to Reading.

Town look to be cleaning house, with many players having moved or looking to be about to move. Danny Ward has gone to Rotherham permanently, Adam Hammill has joined him on loan, Jon Stead is doing well at Bradford on loan, Anthony Gerrard is rumoured to be parking the family caravan in Stevie G’s garden in the States, while Martin Paterson may be joining him across the pond. These are all players who command a decent wage and, in the main, are not threatening to command a regular first team choice. However, Town now look like they are short of options and desperately need a few players in key positions, and the signing of David Edgar on loan from Birmingham provides versatility and experience on the cheap.

Likely line ups

(Prepared assuming no transfers in or out after tonight)

One to watch

Wigan have a few players Town should be wary of, McManaman (if he plays) MacLean and Waghorn are all more than capable of causing problems, but I’ve opted for Shaun Maloney. Recently linked with a move away to premiership side Leicester, the deal collapsed and he came off the bench to create last week’s equalizer against Blackburn. His set pieces are likely to cause problems and this is an area Town are prone to looking creaky in.

Played for both

Most notable in recent years, I suppose, is Grant Holt, who spent part of this season at Town on loan at a time when his graft and experience coincided with an upturn in Town’s fortunes. Sadly the journeyman striker suffered a knee injury in hsi last game for Town and is out injured for the foreseeable.

Prediction

1-2 Town

If Town play like they did at 1-0 down last week, or at home to Waford the week before, 3 points are a very real possibility.

[Lord Snooty]

This is the type of games we have to win now. We have been playing well away lately but coming out empty handed. You don't get points for plaudits.
Can't understand why Wigan are in the bottom three and they as well will be looking at Huddersfield at home as a must win game.
Not sure where Edgar David is going to play. Is it Tommy Smith who's likely to be dropped?

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Oh and a good thread btw, Grim.

[WakeyTerrier]

Top thread Grim.

Still undecided if I'm attending this or not, probably make mind up to go or not in the pub on Friday night.

This to me is a 'must not lose game' and if offered a point now I'd snap your hand off especially as we only have Nahki Wells as a experienced striker(compared to the rest anyway)

[SHEP_HTAFC]

Great thread Grim
I'm very hopeful we can go there and get the 3 points.
Yes Town are lacking with experienced strikers just now, but we still have Wells. Get him up front with support from Butterfield and Scanz in midfield, and we can sneak a goal or two.

[theo_luddite]

Nice one Grim.

I'll be there. Tis only an hour on Mr. Branson's train set and bus, choo, choo and match tickets combined for the price of a seat at Bell End Road. Should be back in a pub in Wolvo shortly after 6:30 pm as long as I don't fall in the cut off Wigan Pier. Need to start picking up points on the road and this is as good a place as any.

[EastLondonTerrier]

Need a win here. Forward line still oozes quality and i really like forshaw who used to play for brentford, bet he wishes he didn't leave them now but don't rate their defence at all. Scanz and nakhi and butz could really get at em. Attack with width and pace and use our strengths.

[jjamez]

I'd like lolley and bunn in the starting line up with wells and scanz. Also squeeze a few other promising youngsters on the bench too

[Lord Snooty]

One change. Edgar in for the injured Hogg. Vaughan is playing!
Wallace and Bunn back on the bench.

[SHEP_HTAFC]

Vaughan plays.....fantastic...what a hard man.

[theo_luddite]

A really fuggly game if I'm honest. Neither keeper had owt much to do until a floated cross from the left eluded Carson and we won.
6 mins of added time plus as much as the ref could add until he had to blow.

Luverly jubbly. Take an ugly 3 points v a "played well but lost" right now any day of the week.